9 Best European Destinations for Wine Lovers

Some people want to visit Europe for its fascinating history and diverse cultures. But others want to visit for a different reason: the delicious wine!  

If you’re part of the latter group, you’ve come to the right place. We’re rounded up the best wine destinations in Europe — some you probably already have on your bucket list and others that may not yet be on your radar. Whether you have a taste for expensive wines or table wines, here are the top places to sniff, swirl and sip on the continent. 

5 popular wine regions in Europe

• Douro Valley, Portugal
• Bordeaux, France
• Tuscany, Italy
• La Rioja, Spain
• Champagne, France

4 underrated wine regions in Europe

• Minho, Portugal
• Santorini, Greece
• Moravia, Czech Republic
• Piedmont, Italy

It should come as no surprise that one of the best wine regions is also the oldest wine region. Situated in the beautiful country of Portugal, the Douro Valley became the world’s first demarcated and regulated wine growing area in 1756 — and was later listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. That means this is a fantastic spot to learn about, participate in and taste the effects of traditional growing, harvesting and production techniques. Here, grapes are often picked by hand since the terraced vineyards are too steep for modern machines — not to mention, grape stomping is still very much a thing in this part of the world!

How you explore this incredible region (the home of Port wine) is entirely up to you, but you can’t go wrong with a relaxing Douro River cruise. Just saying...

Every French wine lover should have Bordeaux on their travel bucket list! Why? For starters, it’s considered to be one of the best wine destinations in France, nay, Europe — nay, the world! People began making wine in Bordeaux almost 2,000 years ago and never stopped; today, there are more than 13,000 producers, nearly 6,000 wineries and approximately 272,000 acres of vineyards located here.

As the only region in the the world that is allowed to produce Bordeaux wine (a blend of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet France, Petit Verdot and Malbec), this is a fantastic choice for red wine afficionados. Of course, there’s plenty to do beyond sipping great wine. Top cities to visit in the region include Saint-Émilion and — you guessed it! — Bordeaux. In fact, the latter is one of the best places to escape the crowds of Paris.

It doesn’t get much more iconic than Tuscany. Located in central Italy, this European wine region is not only renowned for its delicious wine but also its gorgeous rolling vineyards. There’s a reason romantic movies like Under the Tuscan Sun, Letters to Juliet and Much Ado About Nothing have been filmed here — the scenery in this wine country is truly unmatched.

While Florence, Pisa and Siena are all situated in Tuscany, don’t feel pressure to do a lot of exploring. One of the best ways to enjoy this famous region is to park up at its wineries and order glass after glass of Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay.

Love red wines? Head to the La Rioja region in northern Spain! The Rioja Alta, Rioja Alavesa and Rioja Baja sub-regions are mainly known for growing Tempranillo and Garnache grapes, meaning the wines from this part of the country are medium- to full-bodied and have dark berry, plum, tobacco and herb flavour profiles. Yum!

La Rioja’s history stretches all the way back to 11th century BC, but the region is hardly stuck in the past. In fact, like Madrid and Barcelona, it’s home to some fascinating modern architecture — including the luxurious Hotel Marqués de Riscal (designed by Frank Gehry) and the Raphael López de Heredia Tondoni Winery, which features a stand by Zaha Hadid.

If you prefer for your drink to have an effervescent quality, make your way to this world-famous wine region in France. While other places in the world can produce sparkling wine, they’re not allowed to be named “Champagne”. That’s a title reserved for the bottles that come specifically from the Champagne region, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

This is the ideal place to travel to if you also enjoy tasting the nuances between different wines. There are four wine growing sub-regions in Champagne — Montagne de Reims, Marne Valley, Côte des Blancs, Côte des Bar — and each has distinct topology and soil. That means the Pinot Meunier, Pinot Noir and Chardonnay grapes from one sub-region will taste different than those from another. Do yourself a favour and tour as many of these areas (and their wineries) as you can.

The Douro Valley gets a lot of the glory in Portugal, but wine lovers shouldn’t stop there! Minho, located in the northwest, is famous for its Vinho Verde — refreshingly crisp, acidic and slightly fizzy wines made from a blend of native white grapes. Pro tip: It tastes best at a beach bar with a nice seafood dish.

Minho may not be the largest wine region in the country, but it is a Denominação de Origem Controlada (DOC), meaning its winemakers have to follow strict regulations and quality standards. In other words, you’ll get to sip the cream of the crop.

When you dream about vacationing in Santorini, you probably picture yourself amongst blue-domed houses with a glass of ouzo in hand. While Greece’s national drink is certainly worth trying, it would be a mistake not to sip the unique white wines that are produced on the island. Santorini’s volcanic soils are able to grow grape varieties that other destinations and wine regions simply cannot — including Assyrtiko, Aidini and Malvasia (the latter of which is used to make a sweet wine known as Vin Santo).

The vineyards in the Santorini region are also incredibly distinct. Here, wine growers use the “koulara” technique, which involves rolling up the vines in a nest-like shape to protect the grapes from the strong winds that blow in from the Aegean Sea. 

As you can probably tell from looking at the rest of this list, the world’s best wine destinations can primarily be found in western Europe. That said, you shouldn’t discount the wine from eastern European countries. Take the Czech Republic, for example; it’s a great place to sample Riesling, Pinot Grigio, Gewürztraminer, Sauvignon Blanc and other popular wines made from white grapes.

Make your way to the Moravia region. Almost 96% of the county’s wine is made here, so you know it’s going to be good. Plus, there are tons of medieval villages, impressive castles and UNESCO World Heritage Sites to explore in the area.

Italy’s Piedmont region doesn’t have the same reputation as other European wine destinations, but it truly was made for oenophiles — especially the ones who enjoy immersing themselves in the history and culture of wine as much as they love drinking it. In addition to touring wine cellars and participating in a wine tasting (or two… or three!), you can explore the interactive WiMu (otherwise known as the Wine Museum of Barolo) and indulge in a little wine therapy at the Relais San Maurizio hotel. Relaxing in a sauna made from old wine barrels? Sign us up!

Situated on the borders of France and Switzerland, Piedmont’s climate is influenced by the cool Alps and the balmy Mediterranean Sea; this makes it one of the best wine regions in Italy for grapes such as Nebbiolo, Barbera and Dolcetto.

Ready to fill up on good times and a bunch of wines in Europe? Check out our current deals or chat with a travel consultant today. We can help you plan a vacation in the wine country of your dreams — and can even organize guided tours and tastings at these famous regions’ best vineyards and wineries. Sip, sip hooray!